# translate

/tɹænˈsɫeɪt/ (US) · /tɹænslˈeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/translate
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. between languages

verb · CEFR B1

to change words from one language into another language.

For teachers: to express the sense of words or text in another language. Transitive when specifying the source or target text.

- She had to translate the menu for her parents because they didn't speak French.
- The poet spent years attempting to translate the ancient epic into modern English while preserving the original meter and emotional resonance.

### 2. to result in

verb · CEFR B2

to change something into a different form or to have a specific result.

For teachers: to lead to or manifest as a particular result or state. Often used with the preposition 'into'.

- Hard work in the gym will eventually translate into better performance on the field.
- Economists are concerned that the recent increase in raw material costs will eventually translate into higher prices for the average consumer.

### 3. to explain simply

verb · CEFR B2

to explain something difficult in a way that is easier to understand.

For teachers: to rephrase or interpret technical or complex information into a simpler or more accessible register.

- Can you translate this legal document into plain English for me?
- The consultant's primary role was to translate the engineers' technical jargon into a strategic plan that the board of directors could approve.

### 4. to move a shape

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to move a shape or object to a new position without turning it or changing its size.

For teachers: to move a figure or a set of points a fixed distance in a specified direction without rotation or reflection.

- In the geometry lesson, we learned how to translate a triangle across the graph.
- To solve the problem, the student had to translate the entire coordinate system along the x-axis to align with the primary vector.

### 5. biology/medicine

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

the process in a cell where instructions from genes are used to make proteins.

For teachers: to undergo or cause the process by which a sequence of nucleotide triplets in messenger RNA gives rise to a specific sequence of amino acids.

- The cell uses ribosomes to translate genetic code into the proteins our bodies need.
- The research team investigated how certain environmental toxins might interfere with the cell's ability to translate mRNA accurately during protein synthesis.

### 6. mathematical shift

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a set of points moved by a specific distance and direction.

For teachers: the result of a translation; a set of points obtained by adding a fixed vector to each point of a given set.

- The teacher asked us to find the coordinates for the translate of the square.
- In Euclidean geometry, any translate of a line is a line parallel to the original.

## Examples

- She needs to translate this document into Spanish by tomorrow.
- The software can translate spoken phrases in real time, allowing travelers to communicate more easily in foreign countries.
- While the poet's imagery is vivid in the original Italian, critics argue that the subtle emotional nuances do not always translate effectively into English prose.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.